1853 25C Arrows and Rays PR66 Cameo NGC....

Description

Marvelous 1853 Arrows and Rays Quarter, PR66 Cameo

1853 25C Arrows and Rays PR66 Cameo NGC. Ex: P. Kaufman. The
1853 issues are considered the rarest and most desirable proof
Seated Liberty proof. All denominations are rare, especially the
quarter dollar and half dollar. The Premium Gem Cameo proof offered
here is second finest of four or five certified proofs.
Walter Breen recorded a proof mintage of five coins for each silver
issue through the half dollar. However, it is not known where he
obtained these figures. Breen also claims that the proofs were
coined on March 3, 1853, on the strength of a comment made by
Harold Newlin in 1883. Newlin claimed that the first half dimes
with arrows were made on March 3, 1853. Since April 29 was the
first coinage of record, Breen decided that the proofs of all
denominations were made on March 3.
David Akers published a census of 1853 Arrows and Rays quarters in
the May 1998 John Jay Pittman Collection catalog, which we have
expanded as 10 years have passed since that sale. Our roster lists
seven different examples, although one or two of these can be
discounted as prooflike business strikes. Only four of the
following seven pieces have been certified as proofs.
1. PR66 Cameo NGC. The present coin. The Phil Kaufman
Collection of Early Proof Sets, Part One (Heritage, 8/2007), lot
1785. This piece does not match any of the following.
2. PR65 NGC. Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. (Bowers and Merena,
4/1997), lot 1454; Heritage (1/1998), lot 6782; David Lawrence
(3/2005), lot 1522. In the Eliasberg catalog, Dave Bowers
described this piece as MS64, prooflike, noting "possibly a
candidate for 'proof' attribution." Since the time of that sale, it
has been certified as a proof.
3. PR64 NGC. Jerome Kern Collection (B. Max Mehl, 5/1950), lot
1445; John Jay Pittman (David Akers, 5/1998), lot 1325; Bowers and
Merena (8/1999), lot 141; Goldberg Coins (2/2002), lot 704;
Superior (1/2004), lot 287.
4. MS64, prooflike. Thomas L. Elder; Norweb Collection (Bowers
and Merena, 3/1988), lot 1594. Dave Bowers cataloged this as a
prooflike business strike in the Norweb catalog, but a decade later
Dave Akers included it in his census of proofs.
5. PR63 PCGS. Stack's, Auction '80, lot 1184; Stack's, Auction
'90, lot 143; Stack's (5/1992), lot 2659; Superior (6/1999), lot
2099; Superior (10/2000), lot 4360; Goldberg Coins (5/2001), lot
561; Superior (1/2004), lot 2354.
6. Proof. Lester Merkin (6/1968), lot 291; Stack's (10/1990),
lot 1638.
7. Proof. National Numismatic Collection; Smithsonian
Institution.

NGC has certified a PR67 piece in addition to those listed above.
We have no further notes about that piece, probably a resubmission
of one of the above listed coins.
The obverse field is deeply mirrored, and the reverse field is
lightly mirrored, with numerous die polish lines visible on both
sides. Slight mirrored surface appears between the vertical shield
stripes on the reverse. No clash marks, die cracks, or other
defects can be found. Both arrowheads and the date are recut,
visible mostly on the 53 and right arrowhead. The shield point is
over the right base of the 1, or about centered between the 1 and
8. The reverse has faint die scratches inside the Q. Short die
lines extend up to the left from the dentils outside of stars 11,
12, and 13.
Bold design elements on each side suggest the proof status of this
Premium Gem. Every individual detail is bold and completely
defined. Every central line in each of the 13 stars are complete.
The head detail is stronger than any seen to date. No toning is
present on either side, thus the brilliant silver surfaces allow
maximum contrast between the fields and devices. The left obverse
field has a shallow blemish between Liberty's arm and star 2. A
partial wire rim is visible around much of the obverse and reverse
circumference. Census: 1 in 66 Cameo, 1 finer (10/08).From The Scott Rudolph Collection.See: Video Lot Description(Registry
values: P5) (NGC ID# 23WU, PCGS# 5548)